Swapping Vantage Seat to normal kayak seat?

I'd like to know the reasoning behind the change to the Vantage seat in the Revo line, too. I fish the sea in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska, and the Vantage seat seems to me to be better for flat water than out in the ocean.

I see a lot of ads up here from people trying to sell or trade a 2015 Revo for a 2014. When you're out there in 6 foot swells at 6 second intervals, you don't want to be on a lawn chair, you want to "feel" the kayak beneath you.

Just seems an odd decision. Maybe Hobie could offer the Revo in two flavors? One for people who like lawn chairs and one for everyone else?

Yes. I just got back from a trip to Florida Everglades. 8-10 hours a day in a rented 2015 Hobie Outback with Vantage seat. First time in a hobie kayak with vantage seat. I am 5'9" 235. During day two of the trip, I had noticed a sore developing on the left side of my thigh while taking a shower. I figured it out that it was from the rub of the vantage seat straps pinned against the side of the thighs. It was impossible to use the Outback and continue fishing for the rest of the trip. I ended up driving all the way back to the dealer in Naples for a pro angler rental that gave me way more room and finished the trip without rubbing my leg. The sore is just healing now and scabbed over. If anyone has done the everglades back country there is limited areas where you can get off for a rest. You're pretty much in a mangrove maze the entire time with maybe an exposed oyster bar or designated chickee or ground camping spot. Even fishing back home, I could easily be on my hobie revo for 8-10 hours straight chasing fish.

I've been a hobie user since 2010 season. Dealt with two cracked hulls in the Hobie Revolution. Hobie backed up and I got my new hulls. I had no problems with the old seat. Just sold my 2014 Hobie Revo and planned on buying the 2016 Revo. After that trip last week there is no way I will be able to fit my body into this new vantage seat and sure don't want to get a rub like that again. I could obviously try losing weight but I have those big hockey legs and hip that will always rub. With the seat at the higher position on the Outback the straps came in tighter and the rub was worse. Fishing out of the big wide, heavy pro angler in my home waters is not an option. I have to modify the Hobie Revo seat or take it out entirely. I spent time at the Florida dealer and it doesn't look like that big a of a deal to angle out the straps to the side if I had too. The best way to do this is to just take the whole seat out and put back in a standard kayak seat. I'd rather not be an inch higher anyways and lose that great initial stability the Hobie Revo has.

Picture below of the wound. It ended up rubbing a hole in my brand new Mysterioso pants. What is Hobies position on this? How about a whole or partial credit for buyers who do not fit into this seat?

Thanks for the suggestions Duncan, but already had a 2014 with 2015 drive to try out. Sold everything 2 months ago to make room for a 2016. Then rented a Hobie Outback with Vantage seat and found out that seat is not for me.

I still don't understand why your messing around with a newer model, 2015/2016 if your unhappy with the new seating. So what, you made a mistake and sold your 2014. Does that preclude you from buying another pre-2015? The solution is obvious to me. Cancel the plans for a 2016 and go back to what worked for you.

, but I'll bet these seats have sold more kayaks than would have been sold otherwise.

I need the warranty man. Cracked two Revo's. Have to make the 2016 work and I will.

Did you crack your Revo's in the seat area? I have a 2008 that cracked in the seat peg holes. I know now that is a problem with the older Revo's.

The market often drives/dictates what features kayak companies have to incorporate into their products. When the first fabric on frame type seats hit the market a few years ago, they quickly became all the rage. Hobie was one of the last companies to incorporate that type seat (and they probably have the best one due to being last).

I found a good picture online showing me a better view of the pre-vantage hobie and the vantage. All I can say is wow. The change in height from the older comfortable revo 13 with great stability to the new vantage is quite a bit of change for this revo user. I still can't see the reasoning for this change in the Revo.

I think a fix here is doable. I have to try and match the incline that the 2014 prior had in the molded seat. Native has an incline seat, thick in front and tapered in the back. This seat is also available with just the pad and I already have that on my Maritime Skiff for the jump seat!